A man on a cross-country mission

June 21, 2006

For the next 90 days, Dan Isaacson will wake up, run 30 miles in his bright blue and silver Nikes and hit his pillow like a stone at the end of each day’s journey.

His views will vary, from the urban settings of downtown Portland, Chicago and New York City to the desolate eastern Oregon desert, the Rockies and the Appalachian mountains. He will run three 10-mile stretches of road every day and, save for losing a limb along the way, he will not quit until he has reached Times Square.

If he makes the trip, he will be the 170th person in to have completed the 2,950-mile trek across the country on foot. More people have summited Mount Everest.

“I want to do something to make a difference,” said the 26-year-old University of Oregon graduate as he passed through Hood River on Friday. “Running is what I do best. The whole idea of this is to inspire people to use their natural attributes to their greatest extent. I’m not trying to inspire people to run across the country. In fact, I don’t recommend it. I’m trying to inspire people to look into themselves and see what they can do to inspire others to make a difference.”

While completing his B.S. in political science at the University of Oregon, Isaacson founded the Project Starlight Foundation. In short, the project is meant to collaborate resources from around the United States, with a mission to help individuals or groups who want to start community improvement programs or projects but need assistance getting them started. The Gemini Run, as it has been labeled, will act as a platform for Project Starlight to garner national attention and potential donors.

“We want to do something to make us feel like we are making a difference,” Isaacson said. “The goal is to raise money, give it away every year, and see what change people can make with it … The idea of Project Starlight is, if you want to help make a positive difference in your community, the answer should never be no.”

Today, Isaacson and his support crew — following in a sponsor-tagged RV — is near Hermiston. If all goes well, they will reach Boise by July 4. The final 10-mile section of the journey through New York City is scheduled for Sept. 18. The experienced distance runner will travel along I-84 to Salt Lake City, where he will merge onto I-80 for the rest of the trip.

Isaacson has extended an open invite for people to call him on his cell phone about the Gemini Run or about Project Starlight. His number is: (815) 236-9375.

“It’s hard to convince people to donate or sponsor when they don’t know anything about us,” he said. “But we’re a 100-percent legitimate, nonprofit organization and I encourage people to call me for more information.”

The Gemini Run is currently sponsored by Nike, Champion Sportswear, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Red Bull and Fifth Third Bank.

“I got into this to finish it, and I truly believe I can,” Isaacson said, polishing off a second can of Spaghetti-O’s Friday afternoon at Memaloose State Park. “Barring my leg falls off, I’m going to finish this. I don’t believe this is going to change the world, but I believe the world can change.”

For more information on the Gemini Run, Project Starlight or how to get involved, please visit their web site at:

psfoundation.com